Packing-machine.



No. 859,772. PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

' R. HOYT.

PACKING MACHINE. APPLIoATIoN FILED AUG. 1o. 1904.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ia. @y

No. 859,772. PATENTED JULY 9, 1907.

R. HY'I'.

PAGKIITGr MACHNE. APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 1o, 1904.

4 SHEETB--SHEET 2.

w/TA/Essfs.' /N VENTO@ A TTOHNE YS R. HOYT.

PATENTED JULY 9l 1907,

PACKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 10, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHBBT 3.

I No. 859,772. PATENTED JULY 9, 19o?.

R. -IOYT. PAGKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Sxx 1.

' UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

rEoscoE noYT, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

PACKING-MACHINE No. 859,772.V

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoscoE HoYT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Packing-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to machines for arranging packages in cases, its principal object being to provide an v effective apparatus to automatically accomplish this end. l

It consists in the various features and combinations hereinafter described and more particularly claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference' indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

' Figure 1 is an end elevationof one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a broken side elevation theref, looking from the left in Fig. 1 Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section therethrough; Figs. 4 to 7 show, diagramcase-support S whichV may include a sleeve 15 surroundthereof.

ing each of the shafts and movable longitudinally 'lhesesleeves are connected by a *platform 16, from the opposite edges of which rise arms 17 connected by angular ways 18, in the horizontal surfaces of which preferablyoperate rolls 19 which facilitate the movement along-v the ways of the boxes or cases C, in which the packages are to be packed. Upon each of the shafts 14 is a pair of sprocket-wheels 20, 20 situated in cut-away portions of the sleeves and platform and being splined to the shafts to rotate therewith and yet be capable of longitudinal movement. Over these sprocket-wheels operate feed-chains 21 having trans- -versely-alined engaging-fingers 22 which are adapted ,zontal portion 24. Situated in proximity to the end of this chute is a delivery-tube 25 having a somewhat tering upper end 26, the side 27 of which, opposite the Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 10, 1904. Serial No. 220,277;

Patented July e, 1907.

chute, is extended lupwardly toifurnisl anabutment against which packages P Contact as they descend the chute and enter the tube, the latter having such crosssectional area that said packages fit snugly therein and yet so as not to interfere with their free descent. The packages are temporarily retained in the deliverytube by divided spring walls .28 situated at the lower extremity, which is located above the case-support. The delivery-tube is mounted upon levers 29, here shown as two in number, which are pivoted to it and fulcrumed upon a depending arm. 30. The outer ends of these levers are connected by a link 31 having an .upward extension. Upon the link is shown a counterweight 32 serving to hold the upper extremity of the delivery-tube 'normally in coaction with the supplychute7 its position beingdetermined by somensuitable stop, as is indicated at 32, fixed upon the arm and contacting with one ofthe levers.

Journaled in the standards is a crank-shaft 33 having fixed upon it an arm 34 carrying a weight 35, which holds it in contact with the extension of the link 31.` The cranks of this shaft have, depending from them, links 36, which have, journaled in their lower ends, a shaft 37 guided by slots 38 in the standards, through one of which it extends, and has fixed upon its outside the frame a pulley 39 to which power may be applied ffon any suitable source to continuously rotate the shaft during the operation of the machine. Fixed upon the shaft 37 is a gear 40 which may be moved into mesh with an irregularor cam-shaped gear 41 fastened upon a crank-shaftV 42 journaled in the standards.

Both the gears 40 and 41 are preferably provided upon one faceA with an annular flange 43. The outer faces I of these flanges correspond to the pitchl circles of the gears and maintain their teeth in proper relation while they are in mesh., f

The shaft 42 has secured uponit a 'gear 44' which meshes with a gear 45 xed' upon the end .of a crank- 50 which may be segmental and which coperates with p a rack formed upon a substantiallyl vertical plunger 51 sliding in ways 5.2 carried by the cross-bar. This plunger is shown as provided with an angular end or head 53 which, upon its downward movement, contacts with the upper package contained in the deliverytube and forces it'before it, the length of the plunger i being sulicient to allow the'ejection of the entire con! tents of the tube. At the sameltime it furnishes'a closure for the end of the supply-chute and prevents the discharge of-other packages until it has .been raised. l

The cranks of the shaft 42 are shown as two in number, and upon each operates a link 54, Asaid links having and cach coperates with aS ratchet-wheel mountedupon a shaft 58. One of these wheels designated by the-numeral59, is loose upon' the shaft and has fixed to it at its outer side a sprocket-wheel 60 which has, passing over it,.a chain 6l extending overa similar wheel 6l" upon a shaft 62 rotatable in the standards. At thc extremities of this shaft, are secured gears 63 which cooperate with racks 64 projectingfrom thel inner side of the platform. This ratchet-wheel, when rotated by thc downward movement ofthe pawl, acts through the gearing to move the case-support to the right (Fig. l). The opposite outer ratchet-wheel of the series, numbered 65, is also loose upon the shaft and has fixed to it wheels, and thus move the case-support toward the les left. *Between the wheels 59 and 65 are ratchetwheels 69 and 70 which may be fixed to one another and' secured to the shaft and which, when moved by their pawls, will rotate, through bevel gearing 7l, one of the shafts .i4 and thus produce a travel of the feed-chains,

the two wheels operating to move said chains different amounts. v

To determine the action of the pawls upon the ratchet-wheels, selective mechanism is provided, which may comprise rotatable contact members or disks 72, 73, 74 and 75, corresponding, respectively, to the pawls of the wheels 59, 65, 69 and 70, these disks being fast upon a shaft 76 journaled in the standards. Coperating with each of the disks and with its pawl is an intermediate member, which may consist of a 4pin 77 mounted to slide in cross-pieces 78 extending between the standards and having their outer ends held in contact with the periphries of the disks b'y springs 79 which encircle them and contact at their opposite ends with one of the cross-pieces and with enlargements 80 upon the pins. Fastened upon the shaft 76 is a ratchetwheel 81. with which cooperates a weighted pawl 82 pivoted upon a lever 83 loosely fulcrumed upon an arm 84 projecting from one of the standards. The opposite extremity of this lever is pivotally connected with the shaft 55, the raising and lowering of this shaft thus resulting in an intermittent rotation'of the shaft 76 and'its contact-disks. Each of these contact-disks has, in its periphery, recesses which permit a longitudinal movement of the associated pin, allowing its pawl to fall by gravity into coaction with its ratchetwheel and to rotate it upon downward movement of the shaft 55. In the disk 72 these recesses 85, 85 are oppositely situated and each extends, in the present instance, for substantially four-twentieths of the circum? ference. v Those in the disk 78, numbered 86, 86, are of equal extent, but are situated at an angle of 90 from the recesses 85. In the disk 74 are three recesses 87, separated from one another by'angles of 90 and each being approximately one-twentieth of the circumference of the disk. They lie in angular relation to the recesses 85, as is 'shown in Figs. 4 to of the drawings,

coming between and just after or before these withyrespectto their time of action. The disk 75 has a single recess 88, which is situated equidistantly between thef most separated recesses 87 of the diskl7.4. One side of .each pin and the contacting side of each recess is inclined at 89 to cause the pins to ride out of the recesses in the rotation of the disks. While the recesses 87 and 88 are shown as of the same extent,l it -is desired that the former shall act for but half the time that do the latter, and to 'secure this effect a contact member 9() is associated with the pawl of the disk,74, holding it at a differ-l ,eut angle than are the companion pawls, so that in its downward movement it will miss the first tooth of the ratchet-wheel with which the companion pawls would coact, this being particularly illustratedin Fig. 8. Its contact with lthe succeeding pawl will rotate the ratchet-wheelbut half as much. To permit the pawl to follow the ratchet-wheel in its rotation, the contact member 90 is preferably allowed to yield inwardly, it being acted upon by a spring 91 which surrounds it and is situated between an enlargement 92 and a bracket 93 in which the member slides.

In using the machine, the cases to be filled are each supplied with Ia guide-frame 94 divided by partitions 95 into spaces equaling in number the piles of packages which are to be placed within the box and being similarly arranged. Projections` 96I from this frame,

situated above the ytop of the case, enableit to'be,

readily handled. The initial position of the case upon the support, with the chain-lingers' in contact. with its rear side with respect to the directionin which it is to be moved", is such that thedelivery-tnbe will be above a frame-compartment at the' corner oi the case. The packages are now allowed to pass down the `supply-chute from any source and are directed into the deliverytubethe first falling therethrough until its progress is resisted bythe spring walls attire end, and those succeeding it resting upon one another. Whon the number of .packages has lentered the tube which will sulice to iill a frame-compartment to the desired depth, their weight overcomes' that of the counterweight a'nd thc delivery-tube is lowered.

This raises the endof the link connecting 'the supportcam-projection of its companion, is restored toits initial position and passes out of engagement, 4as is best seenY in Fig. 3. Thus f or each depression of the deliverytube a single complete rotation of the shaft 42 results. The first half of this rotation, through the'link 47 and the segmental gear 50,'movcs down the plunger, which presses lthe packages through the delivery-tube int0- the compartment of the frame and temporarily holds thepackages in thehute from passing into ,the tube. These vform-sections, it will b e seen, obviategthe. possibility .of the piles of packages becoming displaced.

During this half-rotation or cycle, the pawls 57 are all raised preparatoryl to making a downward, or operating stroke. On the second half of the cycle they dcscemi, and tbe recess -85 oi the disk 72 allows its pin to be pressed from the pawl, bringing it into coaction with the ratchet-wheel 59, all the ,other pins remaining in contact with the outer peripberics oi the disks. in consequence, the sbait 62 is rotated by the sprocket. gearing to move the case-support one trame-space to the right by means oi'` the interposed gearing, this bringing the next space oi' the row beneath tbc delivery-tube. 'ihe operation oi delivering a charge oi` boxes is now autmnatically repeated and the case advanced a space by its support in the same manner.

v Ai'tcr there have been i'our oi these movements, the

pin rides out oithe recess 85 and a companion pin' enters a recess S7 oi' the disk 74. During the second haii oi` this cycle, the ratchet-wheel (Si) operates and moves the chain suiiicient to advance the case over the ways by one space ot' the frame, bringing the iirst of thc succeeding row ot' spaces beneath the deliverytube, the throw of the ratchet-wheel necessary to secure an advance of one space rather than two being attained by the action oi the spring contact member, as has been previously described. New a recess 86 oi' thc disk 73 comes into action' and the case is moved back to the left and the row of frame-spaces filled with packages. These operations continue until the case has beencntirely filled. Then, as the advance of a single space would be insufiicient to bring a new case under thc delivery-tube, the lingers upon the chains areso situated that the first row oi the following case shall be separated by two spaces and the recess 88 oi' the disk 75 acts to cause a complete stroke of the pawl oi ratchet-wheel 70, which brings this succeeding case into position to receive the first pile of its contents. lu this manner case after case is filled, it being only necessary to supply packages through the chute and place thc cases with their.guide-frames upon the support. When each has received its contents, the fraaie is withdrawn and the case is ready for closure.

.iiaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:-

l. A packing-machine comprising a movable delivery device, a, case-support. and means i'or moving the case support controlled by the movement of the delivery device.

Z2. A packing-machine comprising a delivery device movable by the packages to be packed, a case-support, and means for moving the case-support controlled by the movement ot the delivery device.

3. A packing-machine comprising a movable delivery device. a case-support, and means Vfor moving the case- 'support in a plurality of directions, said moving means being controlled by the delivery device.

4. A packing-machine comprising a movable deliveryl device, n case-support. and independent means tor moving the case-support for different distances, said moving ineens being controlled by the delivery device.

5. A packing-machine comprising a case-support, n movable delivery device, and means for effecting the delivery of packages to differentI portions `ot.' the case controlled by the movement of the delivery device.

o. A packing-machine comprising a case-support, a movable delivery device. means for eiiectlng the delivery of packages to diiicrent portions 'of the case controlled by the movement ot the delivery device, and electing means eooperating with the delivery device.

7. A wicking-machine comprising a movable delivery device, a case-support, ejecting means ro-operating with thc delivery dev-ice, and means for moving the case-support and ejecting means controlled by the movement of tlic delivery device.

H. A packing-machine comprising a movable delivery device, a case-support, ejecting means co-operating with ihe delivery device, and mcans i'or moving the case-support and ejer-tim.;-` means controlled by the Vmovement of the delivery device.

i). A packing-machine comprising a delivery device, a case-support, power mechanism, independent operating means tor imparting a plurality of movements-to the casesupport, and selective mechanism for determining the conneciion of the operating means with the power mechanism.

lo. 'lhe combination with a case-support, of a deliverytuin` movable independently ot tbc case-support having,r

its side-walls dividedl to furnish spring retaining members.

il. 'lhe combination with a case-support, of a deliverytube. movable toward and from the casc-suplwrt havim,r ils side-walls divided at one end to furnish spring-retaining members, and n plunger-,movable into the opposite end ot the delivery-tube.

1;'. 'ihe combination with a supply-chute and a ensevsupport, ot a delivery-tube movable -toward and from the case-support having its side-walls divided at one end to furnish spring-retaining ,members and a plunger movable into the opposite end of the delivery-tube and operating across the supply-chute.

13. 'ihe combination with a movable case-support, of a movable delivery device, a level' connected to the delivery device, and power mechanism for moving the case-support connected with the lever.

14. `fihe combination with a movable case-support, et' a delivery device, a continuously-rotatable gear movable by the delivery device, a cam-shaped gear with which said continuous]y-rotatable gcar coacts, and means for communicating the movement oi the cani-shaped gear to the -casc-support.

15. The combination with a movable case-support, of a series oi' pawls, ratchet-wheels connected with the cascsupport and with which the pawls may coact, and means for determining the engagement et the pawis and ratchetwheels. N

1G. The combination with a movable delivery device, of a movable case-support, a series of pnwls, ratchet-Wheels connected with the case-support and with which the pawis may coact, and )means ior determining the engagement ot the pawls and ratchet-wheels operable by the delivery device.

17. 'ihe combination with a movable case-support, of a series of pawis, ratchet-wheels eonnectcdwith the casesupport and with which the pawls may coact, means for determining the. engagement ofthe. pawisl and ratchetwheels comprising rotatable-contact members, and intermediate members coacting with the contact members and wiih the pawls.

1S. 'lhe combination with a movable case-support, of i series of pawls, ratchet-wheels connected with the casesupport and with which the pawis may coact, means for determining the engagement of the pawls and ratchetwheels and means focvarylng the relation of one of thc K pawis to its ratchet-wheel.

1i). 'ihe combination with a case-support comprising ways and feed-chains, of independent means for moving the ways and the feed-chains.I

20. The combination with shafts, of a case-support movable along the shattsand comprising feed-cha ins connected ROSCOE ilOYT.

Witnesses: Srnymnus il. Con .'lno. M. Iii'r'rnn. 

